Regions
Banff Yoho Kootenay.
Basal instabilities can result in large avalanches with high consequences. Thinner snowpack areas will be more touchy and prone to avalanche. Make conservative choices.
Weather Forecast
A little snow, then some wind and snow on Saturday and moderately cool temps are forecast. We may see some windslabs develop Saturday depending on intensity and amounts. The main storm is forecast to travel south of us.
Snowpack Summary
Solar crusts on some steep SE to West slopes at TL. Surface hoar development at treeline. In thick snowpack areas, the Dec 10th weak layer of facets is now down 100-150cm with a stronger snowpack below. In thin snowpack areas, there is little separation between Dec 10 and the weak depth hoar/ facets sitting 40 cm above the ground
Avalanche Summary
No avalanches observed or reported today.
Confidence
Intensity of incoming weather systems is uncertain
Problems
Deep Persistent Slabs
Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.